DITTY BAG PACKING DAY

A few weeks ago SCI‘s lobby was a whirlwind of activity as 44 volunteers from over 15 churches packed over 3500 Ditty Bags. As you may remember, a Ditty Bag is filled with the necessities and small gifts needed to maintain life onboard ship. We were able to enjoy a quick breakfast snack before the heartfelt work began. By the time we broke for lunch, with a blessing from one of our chaplains, the smiling faces and happy conversation reminded us of how good it feels to do something for people we never even met.

Although the Holiday Season is one of the happiest times of the year for most of us, the seafarers we serve are thousands of miles away from their family and friends. They work on ships that transport the goods which sustain our everyday lives and, for some, this is the only Christmas present they receive. Usually, the ships captain will distribute the Ditty Bags to each man on Christmas morning.

All during December our chaplains and ship visitors will continue to deliver these Ditty Bags for every merchant mariner on every ship that calls the ports of Philadelphia and South Jersey. We owe it all to those wonderful people who set aside a day in their busy lives to put a Christmas smile on a strangers face. Thank You!